Assignment Task: What do you know about the gender scheme theory and the social role theory?
Overview:
Gender schema theory (Bem, 1981) frames gender as a product of the assumptions and expectations that are established and transmitted within a culture. Similarly, social role theory (Eagly, 2012) suggests that social role stereotypes emerge from socially constructed assumptions and expectations. Through your learning, you have come to understand that the gender and social norms that create a framework for acceptable behavior within groups and communities have a specific value: providing society with a sense of structure and predictability. Yet, despite their societal and cultural purpose, gender and social norms have had a constraining influence on the promotion of justice and equality for all people. This milestone assignment allows you to gain deeper insight into the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusivity, which you will apply throughout the completion of Project Two.
To complete this milestone, you will critically analyze the ways in which gender schema theory and social role theory have shaped our sociocultural definitions of gender and social roles.
References:
Bem, S. L. (1981). Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 88(4), 354-364.
Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2012). Social role theory. In P. A. Van Lange, A. W. Kruglanski, & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of theories of social psychology: Volume 2 (pp. 458-476). Sage Publications Ltd.
Prompt:
To complete this assignment, use the Module Five Milestone Template Word Document to address Part One and Part Two of the following rubric criteria:
Part One:
Apply the foundational concepts of gender schema theory to address each of the following rubric criteria in 2 to 3 sentences:
1. Describe how gender schema theory explains the ways in which you process information about masculinity and femininity within your culture.
2. Describe the potential socio-psychological advantages of possessing a unique combination of masculine and feminine personality traits.
3. Describe how the deconstruction of traditional gender roles supports efforts toward achieving gender equality (e.g., pay equity, political representation, organizational leadership).
4. Describe the strengths and limitations of gender schema theory as it applies to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
Part Two:
Apply the foundational concepts of social role theory to address each of the following rubric criteria in 2 to 3 sentences:
1. Describe how social role theory explains the ways in which cultural norms reinforce the biological foundations of social roles.
2. Describe the influence of social role expectations within the various levels of your social ecosystem.
3. Describe the ways in which your social, cultural, or spiritual attitudes might reinforce social role stereotypes.
4. Describe the strengths and limitations of social role theory as it applies to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.